MBE 2015
Special Business Edition
Business Briefs
Oregon’s Annual Job Growth
Reaches 10-Year High
According to numbers released by the Oregon Depart-
ment of Employment earlier this month, Oregon’s payroll
employment continues to grow rapidly, adding 4,400 jobs
in August, following a revised gain of 7,400 in July. In Au-
gust, two major industries accounted for most of the gains,
as leisure and hospitality added 2,100 and government add-
ed 1,600. The other 12 major industries performed close to
their normal seasonal patterns.
Over the past 12 months, Oregon’s payroll employment
has expanded by 60,400 jobs, or 3.5 percent. This is the
state’s fastest job growth rate since February 2005. In terms
of total jobs added during a 12-month period, the last time
Oregon added more than 60,000 jobs was toward the end of
the high-tech boom, when during the 12 months ending in
May 1997, Oregon added 61,500 jobs.
Job gains over the past 12 months were widespread among
the industries as nearly all of the major industries grew by
between 3 percent and 5 percent. The fastest growing indus-
tries each rose by close to 5 percent: leisure and hospitality
(+9,400 jobs, or 5.1 percent); retail trade (+9,700 jobs, or
4.9 percent); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities
(+2,700 jobs, or 4.8 percent). Other key industries also grew
rapidly over the year including manufacturing (+5,800 jobs,
or 3.2 percent) and construction (+3,000 jobs, or 3.8 per-
cent). None of the major industries cut jobs substantially
during the period, but financial activities and mining and
logging each were essentially flat.
Despite strong payroll job gains in recent months, Ore-
gon’s unemployment rate edged up to 6.1 percent in August
from 5.9 percent in July. However, the unemployment rate
continues to be lower than last year, when in August 2014 it
was 6.9 percent.
maximum grant is $300,000. Grants are awarded through a
competitive process.
BBB Announces Cyber Security
Awareness Month
The Better Business Bureau has designated October as
National Cyber Security Awareness month. Better Business
Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington
has partnered with the STOP.THINK.CONNECT campaign
to raise awareness about digital and online security.
As hackers become more sophisticated, it’s important to
understand how to recognize potential problems and to pro-
tect personal information. According to a STOP.THINK.
CONNECT survey, 90 percent of respondents indicated
they wanted to learn more about keeping safe online. The
same survey showed that consumers were more concerned
about identity theft than losing their job or healthcare cov-
erage.
BBB encourages online users to educate themselves about
cyber security risks and offer these tips on protecting com-
puters, tablets and mobile phones while online:
• Protect personal information: Start with creating unique
and creative passwords for each account and change pass-
words frequently. Consider using two-factor authentica-
tion for your accounts which requires entering a special
code. Never give out your password. Delete unsolicited
phishing emails asking for personal information.
• Connect with caution: Beware of links in unsolicited
emails or those found in ads on social media sites. Be cau-
tious when using public Wi-Fi – these networks are not se-
cure. When entering financial or credit card information,
be sure that the website is security enabled (https).
• Share with care: Limit your online presence and the infor-
mation you share. Check privacy settings on social media.
Never post personal details anywhere online. Ask permis-
sion before tagging photos of friends.
• Secure Smartphones. Be sure to password protect and lock
your smartphones. Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not
actively in use. Download apps only from trusted sourc-
es. And pay attention to cell phone bills – unauthorized
charges and increased data usage may indicate the phone
has been hacked.
See BRIEFS on page 10
PDC Announces Community Livability
Grants
Applications are open for PDC’s Community Livability
Grant Program.
PDC is seeking proposals from community-based orga-
nizations for projects that foster vibrant and healthy neigh-
borhoods and improve the prosperity of area residents and
businesses. Projects must be located within the Gateway
Regional Center, Interstate Corridor, Lents Town Center,
or Central Eastside Urban Renewal Areas, or Old Town/
Chinatown neighborhood. Funds are available through the
PDC Community Livability Grant Program for permanent,
real property improvements. Projects must add, expand, or
improve physical space.
Priority will be given to projects that benefit communi-
ties of color or people with low incomes, and that promote
widely shared prosperity. Such projects would, for example:
• Support wealth creation opportunities for small business
owners
• Improve access to jobs and workforce development ser-
vices
• Honor and enhance the neighborhood’s cultural diversity
and history
• Deliver a community asset tailored to the community’s
expressed priorities and opportunities
Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Nov. 13. To apply, visit http://
www.pdc.us/for-residents/community-livability-grant.aspx.
PDC will hold four Office Hours sessions in October
and early November for applicants who want hands-on
assistance. To make an appointment, visit http://www.
eventbrite.com/e/clg-program-office-hours-with-pdc-staff-
tickets-18690920045.
In fiscal year 2015-2016, the following funds will be avail-
able: $300,000 for the Interstate Corridor URA; $175,000
for the Gateway Regional Center URA; $300,000 for the
Lents Town Center URA; $200,000 for the Old Town/Chi-
natown Neighborhood; $100,000 for the Central Eastside
URA. Typical grants range from $10,000 to $50,000; the
September 30, 2015 The Skanner News Minority Business Enterprise Edition Page 9